De-icer spray seems to leave the windscreen smeary (is that a word?!) So I now use a jug of lukewarm, definitely not hot, water which instantly clears your screen. Then use your wipers a few times to disperse the water so it doesn't freeze on your screen. After many years of scraping I find this much quicker and easier.

I use a combination of 3 and 6. A good dose of spray as well as letting the engine run with the blowers on in the car - I'm blessed to live in an area where I can do this. On heavy frost days it does need the help of a scraper too.

I don't think de icer is as good as effective as it used to be, i reackon they took the good stuff out of it!I run my engine, put the blowers on the windscreen full, and use a really good scaper, i find that by the time i've gone around the windows of the car, the windscreen is softer from the blower air and it comes off quite easy!

First of all, this image is just gorgeous. So cold, so beautiful. I am lucky enough to have a garage but let me know how those tips work out -- I have a lot of friends who just park outside or in a carport and get plenty of frost!

I'm with you ... I always mean to do one of these things but end up out there in the dark, cold morning scraping a tiny hole with my scraper, then sitting in my car with the blower blowing cold air onto the windscreen full blast. By the time the car has warmed up I am frozen! M x

We both used a scraper (although a real scraper, not a plastic card) when we lived there. But if I remember correctly it's the law to scrape every inch of your windshield, not like in the US where people just scrape a little hole from which to see? We had a huge garage in our first house in which we did park both cars- it was so nice. Second house had a pokey little thing that would have only fit a Smart Car!

We lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for five years and did not have a garage. I threw old comforters over the windshields then threw them in the back of the car. Had to warm the car at least 20 minutes to stand getting in it. Used a hair dryer to thaw out the steering wheel, struck a match to the key(this was 20 years ago before clickers) to warm it to unlock the car. Of course, we had to plug in our cars to keep the battery blanket warm. Too cold to be out scraping.

I bought some quilted waterproof magnetic covers that worked great but until you find some a big comforter works well.

I use #6... Though my father called me tonight: "Did you remember to put cardboard on your windscreen so it won't be frosted tomorrow morning?" I said "yes", but the truth is I completely forgot and I was already in my pajamas when he called... So, I'll deal with the frost tomorrow morning, since it's a very unusual here 0°C tonight!

I LOVE all this great advice. You and others have mentioned cardboard and newspaper - but doesn't it get soggy and freeze to the windscreen? I used a towel tonight to try - they say -4 degrees tonight here. Yikes!

Hi Laura, great post, such fun! I always nip out and start my car 10 minutes before leaving the house. It's great, defrosts the windows and warms the car at the same time, though I have heard the horror stories about people having their car nicked!Many thanks for your comments on the poppies, sorry for the late reply! I think you should plant them anyway, and be the mad poppy lady. All mine are grown in containers, so renting isn't an excuse! Have a great weekend, love Linda x

I'm always late for work, so I need a quick solution to defrost the windows with a thin layer of frost. It actually takes SECONDS! The answer is MEDICINAL ALCOHOL (the alcohol we keep in our medicine cabinet).I pour it over the window and frost disapperas in no time!Let me know if it worked for you, too!

Oh! it does make me laugh how you describe the English!! We normaly go for pouring some warm water and then maybe a bit of a scrape! (you can buy proper scraper things from garages and supermarkets like Tesco!)